Zion National Park
Cliffs, slot canyons, and dizzying views: This park has them all. Two classic Zion experiences: hiking Angels Landing and wading the Virgin River Narrows.
Free Utah Parks Trip Planner
Request your free trip planner and newsletter today. It's everything you need to plan a Utah vacation including the top things to do in 6 national parks.
Utah National Parks and Recreation Areas
Bryce Canyon National Park
Famous for its weird and wonderful hoodoos—bulbous rock pillars—this southwestern Utah park also offers hiking, horseback riding, camping, and stargazing.
Arches National Park
Marvel at more than 2,000 natural rock arches at this park just outside of Moab. Some can be spotted from the road, but the best require a scenic hike.
Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park is full of canyons, mesas, and buttes. But you won't find crowds here. It's Utah's least visited park even though it's the largest
Capitol Reef National Park
This national park preserves the 100-mile-long Waterpocket Fold (a “wrinkle” in the earth’s crust), a Mormon frontier settlement, and vast wilderness.
Neighboring Parks
From the Flaming Gorge in the north to Monument Valley in the south, Utah is filled with parks and recreation areas for you to enjoy.
What to Pack for Utah National Park Vacations
How do you pack for your desert climate that includes river hiking and rafting? Here are the top 15 items to put in your backpack.
2018 National Park Photography Workshops
National Park Trips Media and Tamron have teamed up to offer Photo Workshops inside your favorite national parks.
Win Trips and Gear
Are you feeling lucky? Enter to win free gear and trips. Here are our current contests. Also see stories and photos from our contest winners.
Where are the parks and recreation areas in Utah?
Utah's five national parks are all located in the southern part of the state and are often added on to a Grand Canyon vacation because of their proximity to Arizona. Winter sports resorts and parks are located in the center and northern regions of Utah with Brian Head and Snowbird being popular destinations. The northeastern section of Utah is famous for dinosaur fossils and the Flaming Gorge, a beautiful water sports and fishing area.
How should I get to Utah's parks?
Most people drive. Check out our road trip ideas. There are a few major airports within a day’s drive of the parks including Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. Once you get to the parks, you will need a car or tour transportation to get around. Zion National Park has a shuttle that runs in the Valley. If you are entering Zion from the east, you need to be aware of the restrictions for the Mount Carmel Tunnel.
5 Best Road Trips
Find an exciting scenic route to the parks when you follow one of these itineraries. We show you the best starting points and points of interest on the way.
Airports Near Utah National Parks and Rec Areas
The closest airports and their distances from Zion, Bryce, Arches and other Utah Parks.
Shuttle Buses in Zion National Park
Information and tips on how to best utilize Zion's free shuttle system. Watch the video.
Will You Fit Through the Mt. Carmel Tunnel in Zion National Park?
A 1.1 mile-long tunnel is credited with converting Zion National Park from an isolated and rarely visited park, to one of the most popular National Parks
Where should I stay on my Utah vacation?
Zion and Bryce Canyon each have one lodge inside the park. However, all parks have campgrounds. There are a plethora of lodging options near the park entrances and in gateway towns including cabins, campgrounds, resorts, and hotels.
Hotels and Cabins
Only two of the five Utah national parks have hotels or cabins inside the park, but your can find a variety of lodging in gateway communities right outside the park boundaries.
Camping and RV Parks
Spend time camping on your Utah National Park vacation at one of the many area campgrounds.
What is there to see in Utah's national parks?
Top 3 Vistas in Zion National Park
Get the best views in this red-rock paradise in southwestern Utah. If you want to feel on top of the world, here are three fantastic Zion hikes that offer incredible vistas.
What are Hoodoos?
The word "hoodoo" means to bewitch, which is what Bryce Canyon's rock formations surely do.
Natural Rock Arches in Arches National Park
The largest concentration of natural arches in the world. Marvel at more than 2,000 natural rock arches at this park just outside of Moab.
4 Districts of Canyonlands National Park
Explore the Needles, Island in the Sky, the Maze, and the Rivers of Canyonlands National Park. Also see two fascinating spots nearby.
![Cassidy Arch in Capitol Reef National Park. Photo by John Fowler [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons](https://www.myutahparks.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTQ4MzM1NjgyMjUxNzI4NjI4/capitol-reef-cassidy-arch_wikijohnfowler_680.jpg)
4 Things to See at Capitol Reef National Park
The best viewpoints, trails, and attractions in this under-the-radar park.
What is there to do in Utah?
Hiking through slot canyons and up rock formations, mountain biking over slickrock, 4-wheel scenic drives, and wildlife watching (especially for bighorn and birds) are the main activities. See our list of the top ten things to do in the parks and beyond.
Hiking Trails
Utah offers hikers and backpackers an exceptional variety of lovely trails that meander across rivers and streams, and pass by striking waterfalls & arches
Outdoor Recreation
From hiking to fishing to winter sports, there are plenty of activities for the outdoor enthusiast in Zion National Park.
Attractions
Utah has many museums, zoos, movie sets, and historic sites to visit on your national park vacation
Vacation Itineraries
Looking for ideas for a Utah vacation? Here you'll suggestions for Utah's five national parks along with some of Utah's leisure towns and cities.
10 Top Things to Do in Utah Parks
Be sure to hit one, or all, of the Top 10 Things to do and see in Utah Parks. There’s slot canyons, arches, museums, dinosaurs and more.
What's New
Message in a Bottle
Jon Fox of EcoVessel talks about why he launched his water bottle company and how EcoVessel is making a difference in the lives of school-aged children all over the world.
11 Rock Formations in Zion Park
Zion has the most impressive formations that are up to 2,500 feet thick, making it the world's deepest desert landscape. Check these must-sees off your list.
Scenic Utah Byway 12 from Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef
Car and Driver rated it among ten most scenic highways, Forbes as one of America's best snowy drives, and Backpacker magazine as a favorite Wild Road.
Hanksville, Utah to Capitol Reef National Park Scenic Drive
From Hanksville, a mining and ranching town, through the ghost town of Caineville, and on to Capitol Reef National Park, Hwy 24 will not disappoint.
Be Aware of Flash Flood Dangers in Utah's Canyons
Although Utah's river canyons are typically mild, flash floods can occur and are dangerous when they do. Zion National Park has had some flood tragedies.
Which Trail Should I Hike in Arches National Park?
What to expect on Arches National Park trails, from an incredibly popular arch hike to a difficult desert scramble in a remote area.
2 Kolob Canyon Scenic Drives in Zion National Park
Stop by the Visitor Center before climbing 1,000 feet in the 5-miles to the Kolob Canyon Viewpoint. Or drive from Virgin, Utah all the way to the reservoir.